Covid-19 Antibody Test
What is antibody testing?
A healthy person develops 2 types of antibodies after exposure to the disease. One is Immunoglobulin M and the other is Immunoglobulin G. Immunoglobulin M is the antibody we create in the early stages of the disease. It is not a preservative, it is there to fight the virus. Therefore, it occurs in approximately 7 days. After the 14th day, the Immunoglobulin G test becomes positive. This is the protective antibody. We understand whether we have had Covid-19 with the antibody test. If there are coronavirus symptoms, the importance of antibody testing increases day by day during the pandemic.

If we have had Covid-19, how long do these antibodies protect us?
We do not yet know how long this antibody against Covid-19 will protect us. For example, in some diseases it is lifelong, while in others it is seasonal. For example, if you have Hepatitis B or get vaccinated, your antibodies will protect you forever. However, this is not the case with Influenza, it lasts for about a season. You go through the season once and you won’t get sick during that season. Next season, you will not have immunity again and you may encounter the virus and get sick. Therefore, you must be vaccinated again every year. However, we do not know this for Covid-19. Time will tell how much antibodies protect us. We can now test for these antibodies, but we don’t yet know what to do with these antibody results. Let’s say the test comes back positive. We don’t know yet whether we will be able to say, “It won’t infect me anymore, I can take off the mask.”

Why is this test done if it is not yet known how much antibodies protect us?
With this test, we understand whether we have Covid-19 or not. After 6 months or 1 year, we will be able to say whether the antibody is protective or not. At the end of 3 years, we will understand that it has protected for 3 years. So it takes many years to understand how much it protects.

Who do you recommend to have the antibody test?
Antibody testing can be used to measure immunity in the population. The state can conduct this test to measure the immunity rate in certain regions. Factories can use this test to understand how many of their employees are immune. However, it is too early for mass screening of these tests. Even in cities where many cases are seen, 20 percent has not been reached. However, people who have had Covid-19 in their family may ask, “I wonder if I had it asymptomatic?” They can get themselves checked. Also, plasma donors should have this test.

Covid19 Test in 30 Minutes
Covid19 Test in 30 Minutes
What is Covid19 Antigen PCR Test?
The health test known as the Covid19 Antigen test is defined as the name of a method. The awareness of this test, called PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) test, has increased during the COVID-19 period. PCR is an advanced diagnostic method that allows the detection of any virus or bacteria in our body, even if the number is low.

Who Does It Apply To?
PCR test can be applied to all age groups, regardless of children or the elderly. A positive PCR test means that the virus has been detected.

How Long Does It Take for the Test to Be Completed?
Your PCR test result is available within 30 minutes. (Your reports are uploaded to the E-Nabız system with the approval of the Ministry.)

Are PCR Tests and Antibody Tests the Same Thing?
Antibody testing aims to identify whether we have had a previous infection or whether we are immune to the virus. Therefore, the antibody test does not give information about whether we are sick or not. The PCR test indicates the genetic information of the virus and whether it has infected someone. The PCR method gives results when the antibody to the disease has not been formed.

Antibody test; It measures the total IgG type antibodies created by the body’s immune system against the SARS CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19. It is a test performed by taking blood from the arm (in people who have had the disease) and shows whether we are immune to the disease.

Are the PCR Tests Approved by the Ministry?
PCR tests are approved by the Turkish Ministry of Health.